Silver halide color photographic material

ABSTRACT

A silver halide color photographicmaterial capable of providing an excellent rapid processing property and sharpness as well as forming little stain on a background after processing. The silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material comprises a reflection support provided thereon at least one of each of yellow color developing silver halide emulsion layer, magenta color developing silver halide emulsion layer and cyan color developing silver halide emulsion layer, wherein the spectral sensitivity peaks of the emulsion layers reside in 400 to 490 nm, 530 to 570 nm and 660 to 720 nm, respectively; wherein a silver halide emulsion contained in the cyan color developing silver halide emulsion layer comprises silver halide emulsion comprising silver halide selected from silver chloride, silver bromochloride, silver chloroiodide or silver bromochloroiodide each having an average silver chloride content of 90 mol % or more, and at least one thiocyanic acid salt compound and wherein the spectral sensitivity peak of the cyan color developing silver halide emulsion layer is provided by a J-band absorption of a sensitizing dye represented by the following Formula (I): ##STR1## wherein Z 23  and Z 24  each represent a group of atoms necessary to form a heterocyclic nucleus selected from a benzothiazole nucleus, a benzoselenazole nucleus, a naphthothiazole nucleus and a naphthoselenazole nucleus, each of which may have at least one substituent selected from a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an aryl group, and a hydroxyl group, provided that two of the substituents may be combined with each other to form a ring; R 25  represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group; R 23  and R 24  each represent a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group; X 21  represents a counter ion; and n 21  is 0 or 1.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a silver halide color photographicmaterial, specifically to a silver halide color photographic materialcapable of providing an excellent rapid processing property and improvedsharpness as well as forming little stain after processing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Commercially available silver halide color photographic materials andassociated image forming methods therewith have diverse applicationsover a wide range of technologies. The capabilities required from theseknown light-sensitive materials are varied according to the respectiveapplications of the light-sensitive materials, and one such capabilityis a high density recording property. In order to demonstrate asatisfactory high density recording property in a silver halide colorphotographic material, high sharpness must be provided. Accordingly,various conventional techniques for increasing the sharpness have beendeveloped and implemented according to the degree of the sharpnessrequirement for the respective light-sensitive materials.

It is known that halation causes a lowering in sharpness in alight-sensitive material. Two causes of such halation primarilyoriginate from a reflection of incident light at an interface between anemulsion layer and a support or a support and air, and inadvertentirradiation from scattered light attributable to the silver halidegrains themselves.

It has been found effective to prevent such deterioration of sharpnessby halation to provide a layer containing a white pigment on a support,such as described in, for example, JP-B-58-43734 (the term "JP-B" asused herein means an examined Japanese patent publication), andJP-A-58-17433 (the term "JP-A" as used herein means an unexaminedpublished Japanese patent application), JP-A-58-14830 andJP-A-61-259246. However, problems have been encountered in that theincorporation of white pigment to such an extent as needed tosufficiently improve or preserve optimal sharpness deteriorates thephysical strength of the pigment containing layer against so-calledfolding and that it thus becomes difficult to maintain the smoothness ofthe layer containing white pigment.

Further, other known methods for improving sharpness include coloring acomponent layer of a photographic material with a dye, which isdescribed in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,548,564 and 3,625,694,JP-A-56-12639 and JP-A-63-197943, European Patent 0337490A2, andJP-A-1-188850. However, it has been found that the increase in contentof a dye used for improving sharpness increases white background stainafter processing, which makes it impossible to increase an added amountof a dye to such an extent as needed so that the sharpness issufficiently improved. Stain of a background in a silver halide colorphotographic material is not commercially acceptable since it not onlyaffects the quality of the background of an image but it also causescolor stain in a color image and deteriorates visual sharpness.Particularly, in the case of a reflection type light-sensitive material,the presence of stain is a very important consideration since areflection density of the stain is theoretically magnified several timesby the magnitude of the transmission density and, therefore, even slightstain noticeably deteriorates an image quality.

Meanwhile, a characteristic ever-increasingly required for silver halidecolor photographic material is amenability to more rapid processing. Itis conventionally thought that the silver chloride content of anemulsion is increased for the purpose of improving a rapid processingproperty. The methods in which an emulsion having a high silver chloridecontent is used are widely described in, for example, JP-A-58-95345,JP-A-59-232342 and JP-A-60-19140. Also, in the commercial market,emulsions used in color photographic paper are actually going toward andadopting the usage of a higher silver chloride content. A specificabsorption range of this high silver chloride emulsion resides in ashort wavelength range and has to be subjected to a spectralsensitization in order to absorb a visible ray of a longer wavelengthand/or an infrared ray as well for sensitization.

In such a high silver chloride emulsion, however, the problem arisesthat even if one tries to subject the emulsion to a spectralsensitization with a sensitizing dye ordinarily used for a silver halideemulsion primarily comprising silver bromide, that it is generallydifficult to sensitize only to a ray of a specific wavelength.

In efforts to solve this problem, it has already been discovered by thepresent inventors that a rapid processing property and a sharpness of asilver halide color photographic material can be improved by providing aspectral sensitization with a spectral sensitizing dye which forms aJ-aggregate in a high silver chloride emulsion to particularly establishan absorption peak of a certain long wavelength ray in a red spectralsensitization wavelength region (such the absorption peak provided byJ-aggregate is called J-band). Meanwhile, it was necessary to develop atechnique capable of treating a spectral sensitizing dye added to a highsilver chloride emulsion so as to more effectively form the J-aggregate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a silverhalide color photographic material capable of providing an excellentrapid processing property and further providing improved sharpness aswell forming less stain after a rapid processing.

As a result of further investigations by the present inventors, it hasbeen discovered that even a spectral sensitizing dye with which itotherwise is difficult to form a J-aggregate in a high silver chlorideemulsion while compared to less difficult forming of the J-aggregate ina high silver bromide emulsion, nonetheless can effectively form theJ-aggregate by using the spectral sensitizing dye in combination with athiocyanic acid salt. Further, the J-aggregate can be even moreeffectively formed by using a thiocyanic acid salt in combination with aspectral sensitizing dye capable of forming the J-aggregate in a highsilver chloride content emulsion in particular.

Thus, the above stated and other objects and advantages of the presentinvention can be effectively achieved by a silver halide colorphotographic material comprising a reflection support provided thereonat least one of each of a yellow color developing silver halide emulsionlayer, a magenta color developing silver halide emulsion layer and acyan color developing silver halide emulsion layer, wherein the spectralsensitivity peaks of the emulsion layers reside in 400 to 490 nm, 530 to570 nm and 660 to 720 nm, respectively; and wherein a silver halideemulsion contained in the cyan color developing silver halide emulsionlayer comprises (1) a silver halide emulsion comprising silver halideselected from silver chloride, silver bromochloride, silver chloroiodideand silver bromochloroiodide, each having an average silver chloridecontent of 90 mol % or more, and (2) at least one thiocyanic acid saltcompound and wherein the spectral sensitivity peak of the cyan colordeveloping silver halide emulsion layer is provided by a J-bandabsorption of a sensitizing dye represented by the following Formula(I); as illustrated below. Further, a safelight safety at 590 nm can beimproved as well by the present invention and overall improvements canbe obtained in terms of improved operability in manufacturing anddevelopment processing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As stated previously, the use of a high silver chloride emulsion ingeneral is described in many patent publications, such as JP-A-58-95345,JP-A-59-232342 and JP-A-60-19140. However, no descriptions are disclosedin the above-mentioned publications regarding a sensitizing dye withwhich the J-aggregate is readily formed when a thiocyanic acid salt isused in combination therewith. Further, nothing is indicated in thesepublications regarding any effect that the thiocyanic acid salt mighthave on sharpness. Also, while the combined use of the thiocyanic acidsalts with the gold sensitizers in a high silver chloride emulsion isdescribed in, for example, JP-A-64-6941, no descriptions are includedtherein regarding a sensitizing dye with which the J-aggregate isreadily formed when a thiocyanic acid salt is used in combinationtherewith, and nothing is indicated regarding any effect that athiocyanic acid salt might have on sharpness. In addition, while severaldescriptions regarding thiocyanic acid salts are found inJP-A-63-223634, JP-A-1-100533 and JP-A-2-153345, there are nodescriptions therein regarding any possible combination of a thiocyanicacid salt with a high silver chloride content emulsion.

The sensitizing dye represented by Formula (I) is explained in greaterdetail below. ##STR2## wherein Z₂₃ and Z₂₄, which may be the same ordifferent, each represents a group of atoms necessary to form aheterocyclic nucleus selected from a benzothiazole nucleus, abenzoselenazole nucleus, a naphthothiazole nucleus and anaphthoselenazole nucleus each of which may have at least onesubstituent selected from a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxygroup, an aryl group, and a hydroxyl group, provided that two of thesubstituents may be combined with each other to form a ring; R₂₅represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group; R₂₃ andR₂₄, which may be the same or different, each represents a substitutedor unsubstituted alkyl group; X₂₁ represents a counter ion; and n₂₁ is 0or 1. X₂₁ can also form an internal salt with R₂₃ or R₂₄.

In Formula (I), preferred functional group Z₂₃ and Z₂₄ are a halogenatom such as fluorine, chlorine and bromine, an alkyl group such asmethyl, ethyl and propyl, an alkoxy group such as methoxy, ethoxy andpropoxy, and an aryl group such as phenyl and p-tolyl group. Preferredas R₂₅ are a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group such as methyl, ethyl,propyl, butyl and phenethyl, and an aryl group such as phenyl. Preferredas R₂₃ and R₂₄ are methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, i-propyl, 2-hydroxyethyl,4-hydroxybutyl, 2-acetoxyethyl, 3-acetoxypropyl, 2-methoxyethyl,4-methoxybutyl, 2-carboxyethyl, 3-carboxypropyl, 2-(2-carboxyethoxy)ethyl, 2-sulfoethyl, 3-sulfopropyl, 3-sulfobutyl, 4-sulfobutyl,2-hydroxy-3-sulfopropyl, 2-(3-sulfopropoxy)ethyl,2-acetoxy-3-sulfopropyl, 3-methoxy-2-(3-sulfopropoxy)propyl,2-[2-(3sulfopropoxy) ethoxy]ethyl, 2-hydroxy-3-(3-sulfopropoxy) propyl,benzyl, and phenethyl.

The ring, which may be formed by combining two of the nuclearsubstituents is a 5- to 6-membered ring which may contain a hetero atom,provided that a benzene ring is excluded. Also useful is a heterocyclicnucleus formed by condensing such rings, for example, anacetonaphthenothiazole ring and an acetonaphthenoselenazole ring.

A J-band absorption is represented by a light absorption by aJ-aggregate. The details of the J-band of a sensitizing dye aredescribed in a well-known treatise in the field, The Theory of thePhotographic Process, edited by T. H. James, e.g., Chapters 8-9 (1977ed.).

The compound of the present invention represented by Formula (I) can beincorporated into a silver halide emulsion used for a cyan developinglayer by dissolving the dye in an organic solvent such as methanol.

The addition amount of this sensitizing dye compound is not specificallylimited. In general, it can be selected in the range of 1×10⁻⁶ to 1×10⁻³mole dye per mole of silver halide in an emulsion layer, preferably1×10⁻⁵ to 1×10⁻⁴ mole dye per mole of silver halide in an emulsionlayer.

Examples of the compounds represented by Formula (I) are shown below butthe present invention is not limited thereto.

    __________________________________________________________________________     ##STR3##                                                                     Compound No.                                                                          X  Y   R.sub.25                                                                              R.sub.24 R.sub.23  X.sub.21                                                                            n.sub.21                      __________________________________________________________________________    I-1     S  S   C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                       C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                        C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                         I.sup.⊖                                                                     1                             I-2     "  "   "       "        (CH.sub.2).sub.3 SO.sub.3.sup.⊖                                                 --    0                             I-3     "  "   "       (CH.sub.2).sub.3 SO.sub.3.sup.⊖                                                "                                                                                        ##STR4##                                                                           1                             I-4     "  "                                                                                  ##STR5##                                                                             C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                        C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                         I.sup.⊖                                                                     1                             I-5     "  "   "       "        (CH.sub.2).sub.3 SO.sub.3.sup.⊖                                                 --    0                             I-6     "  "   "       (CH.sub.2).sub.3 SO.sub.3.sup.⊖                                                "                                                                                        ##STR6##                                                                           1                             __________________________________________________________________________     ##STR7##                                                                     Compound No.                                                                          X  Y  A        R.sub.25                                                                              R.sub.24                                                                            R.sub.23 X.sub.21                                                                          n.sub.21                    __________________________________________________________________________    I-7     S  S  5-Cl     C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                       C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                     (CH.sub.2).sub.3 SO.sub.3.sup..crclba                                         r.       --  0                           I-8     "  "  5-OCH.sub.3                                                                            "       "     "        --  0                           I-9     "  "  5-OCH.sub.3 -6-CH.sub.3                                                                "       "     "        --  0                           I-10    "  "  5-Cl                                                                                    ##STR8##                                                                             "     "        --  0                           I-11    "  "  5-OCH.sub.3                                                                            "       "     "        --  0                           I-12    "  "  5-OCH.sub.3 -6-CH.sub.3                                                                "       "     "        --  0                           I-13    S  Se --       C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                       C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                     C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                        I.sup.⊖                                                                   1                           I-14    "  "  --       "       C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                     (CH.sub.2).sub.3 SO.sub.3.sup..crclba                                         r.       --  0                           I-15    "  "  5-Cl     "       "     C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                        I.sup.⊖                                                                   1                           I-16    "  "  "        "       "     (CH.sub.2).sub.3 SO.sub.3.sup..crclba                                         r.       --  0                           I-17    "  "  5-CH.sub.3                                                                             "       "     C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                        I.sup.⊖                                                                   1                           I-18    S  Se 5-CH.sub.3                                                                             C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                       C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                     (CH.sub.2).sub. 3 SO.sub.3.sup..crclb                                         ar.      --  0                           I-19    "  "  5-OCH.sub.3                                                                            "       "     "        --  0                           I-20    "  "  5-OH     "       "     C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                        I.sup.⊖                                                                   1                           I-21    "  "  "        "       "     (CH.sub.2).sub.3 SO.sub.3.sup..crclba                                         r.       --  0                           I-22    "  "  5,6-diCH.sub.3                                                                         "       "     "        --  0                           I-23    "  "  5-Cl                                                                                    ##STR9##                                                                             "     "        --  0                           I-24    "  "  5-OCH.sub.3                                                                            "       "     "        --  0                           I-25    "  "  5-OCH.sub.3 -6-CH.sub.3                                                                "       "     "        --  0                           __________________________________________________________________________     ##STR10##                                                                    Compound No.                                                                          X Y A     A'  R.sub.25                                                                             R.sub.24                                                                              R.sub.23                                                                              X.sub.21                                                                           n.sub.21                    __________________________________________________________________________    I-26    S S 5-Cl  --                                                                                 ##STR11##                                                                           (CH.sub.2).sub.3 SO.sub.3.sup.⊖                                               (CH.sub.2).sub.3 SO.sub.3.sup..crclba                                         r.                                                                                     ##STR12##                                                                         1                           I-27    " " 5-OCH.sub.3                                                                         --  "      "       "       "    1                           I-28    " " 5-OCH.sub.3                                                                         5'-CH.sub.3                                                                       "      "       "       "    1                           I-29    Se                                                                              Se                                                                              --    --  C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                      C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                       C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                       I.sup.⊖                                                                    1                           I-30    " " 5-Cl  --  "      "       "       "    1                           I-31    " " 5-CH.sub.3                                                                          --  "      "       "       "    1                           I-32    " " 5-OH  --  "      "       "       "    1                           I-33    " " 5-OCH.sub.3                                                                         --  "      "       "       "    1                           I-34    " " 5-6-diCH.sub.3                                                                      --  "      "       "       "    1                           I-35    Se                                                                              Se                                                                              5-Cl  --  C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                      C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                       (CH.sub.2).sub.3 SO.sub.3.sup..crclba                                         r.      --   0                           I-36    " " "     5'-CH.sub.3                                                                       "      "       "       --   0                           I-37    " " --    --  "      (CH.sub.2).sub.3 SO.sub.3.sup.⊖                                               "                                                                                      ##STR13##                                                                         1                           I-38    " " 5-Cl  --  "      "       "       "    1                           I-39    " " 5-CH.sub.3                                                                          --  "      "       "       "    1                           I-40    " " 5-OH  --  "      "       "       "    1                           I-41    " " 5-OCH.sub.3                                                                         --  "      "       "       "    1                           I-42    " " 5-6-diCH.sub.3                                                                      --  "      "       "       "    1                           I-43                                                                                   ##STR14##                                                            __________________________________________________________________________

Examples of the thiocyanic acid salt compounds which can be used in thepresent invention may be either an inorganic salt or an organic salt ofthiocyanic acid. There can be exemplified, for example, thiocyanic acidalkali metal salts, such as potassium thiocyanate and sodiumthiocyanate; and thiocyanic acid alkali earth salts such as calciumthiocyanate and magnesium thiocyanate; and thiocyanic acid ammoniumsalts such as ammonium thiocyanate.

The addition amount of the thiocyanic acid salt compound can varydepending on the form and size of the silver halide grains. In general,however, the thiocyanic acid salt can be used in an amount of 2.5×10⁻⁵to 2×10⁻² mole per mole of silver halide in an emulsion layer. Where thesize of the silver halide grains is, for example, 0.2 to 1.3 μm, theamount is preferably 1×10⁻⁴ to 1×10⁻² mole per mole of silver halide inan emulsion layer.

The thiocyanic acid salt compound used in the present invention ispreferably added by dissolving the salt in water as solvent. The timingof the addition of the dissolved salt is not specifically limited andmay be either during the formation of the silver halide emulsion itselfor the preparation of the emulsion coating solution. The salt is addedpreferably after the formation of the silver halide grains.

The optical reflection density of a light-sensitive material in thepresent invention can be measured by a conventional reflectiondensitometer generally used in the art and defined by the followingequation, wherein, in order to avoid a measurement error caused by alight transmitting through a sample, a standard reflection plate is puton a backside of the sample during measuring:

    Optical reflection density=log.sub.10 (F.sub.0 /F)

F₀ : a light flux of a standard white plate.

F: a light flux of a sample.

The optical reflection density value preferably provided to furtherimprove sharpness in the present invention is preferably 0.50 or more,and more preferably in the range of 0.5 to 2.0, in a measuringwavelength of 680 nm. Where it is 2.0 or more, a residual color afterprocessing is liable to become noticeable. The most preferred range is0.7 to 1.5.

An addition amount of the dye for improving sharpness may be adjusted toobtain an optical reflection density value falling within the aboveranges.

These sharpness improving dyes may be used either singly or in acombination of plural kinds thereof. A layer to which the dye is addedis not specifically limited, and it can be added to a non-photosensitivelayer provided between the lowermost light-sensitive layer and support;or in a light-sensitive emulsion layer, or an intermediatenon-photosensitive layer, or a protective layer; and in anon-photosensitive layer provided between a protective layer and theuppermost light-sensitive layer.

The sharpness improving dyes used for achieving the desired opticalreflection density property are selected from ones which do notsubstantially spectrally sensitize a silver halide emulsion.Conventional addition methods can be applied for the addition of thesetypes of dyes. For example, they can be added as dissolved in water oralcohol, such as methanol.

Also, the sharpness improving dyes added to a prescribed layer in thisregard may be allowed to diffuse throughout all the layers or may befixed to a specific source layer(s).

There can be used as the sharpness improving dyes for achieving themanipulation of the optical recording density in the elements of thepresent invention, various dyes, for example, an oxonol dye having apyrazolone nucleus or a barbituric acid nucleus, an azo dye, anazomethine dye, an arylidene dye, a styryl dye, a triarylmethane dye, amerocyanine dye, and a cyanine dye.

Among them, the sharpness improving dyes which can be particularlypreferably used in the present invention are the dyes described on pages9 to 71 of the specification of European Patent PublicationEP-A-0,337,490 (of them, the oxonol type dyes disclosed therein arepreferred).

The silver halide emulsions used in the present invention comprisesilver chloride, silver bromochloride, silver chloroiodide or silverbromochloroiodide each having an average silver chloride content of 90mole % or more, preferably 95 mole % or more. High silver chloridecontent is preferred for the purpose of facilitating rapid processing ofthe photographic element.

For the purpose of further improving sharpness of an image, 12% byweight or more of titanium oxide which is subjected to a surfacetreatment with di- to tetrahydric alcohols (for example,trimethanolethane) and is preferably incorporated into a water-resistantresin containing layer in a light-sensitive material of the presentinvention.

The photographic additives such as cyan, magenta and yellow couplerswhich can be used in the present invention are preferably used bydissolving them in a high boiling organic solvent. The high boilingorganic solvents can be used as long as they are compounds which have amelting point of 100° C. or lower and a boiling point of 140° C. orhigher and are immiscible with water and good solvents for the couplers.The melting point of the high boiling organic solvents is preferably 80°C. or lower. The boiling point of the high boiling organic solvents ispreferably 160° C. or higher, more preferably 170° C. or higher.

The details of exemplary high boiling organic solvents in this regardare described in a right lower column of page 137 to a right uppercolumn of page 144 of the specification of JP-A-62-215272.

A cyan, magenta or yellow coupler can be emulsified and dispersed in ahydrophilic colloid aqueous solution by impregnating the couplers into aloadable latex polymer (for example, see U.S. Pat. No. 4,203,716) in thepresence or absence of the above high boiling organic solvents, or bydissolving the couplers together with a water insoluble and organicsolvent soluble polymer.

As suitable latex polymers in this regard, preferably used are thehomopolymers or copolymers described in the 7th to 15th columns of U.S.Pat. No. 4,857,449 and pages 12 to 30 of the specification ofInternational Patent Publication WO88/00723. A methacrylate type oracrylamide type polymer is more preferably used, and the acrylamide typepolymer is particularly preferably used in terms of its stabilization ofan image.

A color image preservation-improving compound described in U.S. Pat. No.5,098,805 is preferably used together with a coupler for alight-sensitive material according to the present invention. Inparticular, it is used preferably in combination with a pyrazoloazolecoupler.

A compound (A) which is chemically combined with an aromatic amine typedeveloping agent remaining after a color development processing to forma chemically inactive and substantially colorless compound, and/or acompound (B) which is chemically combined with an oxidation product ofan aromatic amine type developing agent remaining after a colordevelopment processing to form a chemically inactive and substantiallycolorless compound, are preferably used singly or in combination toprevent the generation of a stain caused by a dye formed by a reactionof a coupler with a color developing agent or oxidation product thereofremaining in a layer during storage after processing and from other sidereactions.

Further, a fungicide described in JP-A-63-271247 may be added to alight-sensitive material according to the present invention in order toprevent various molds and bacterium which grow in a hydrophilic colloidlayer and may deteriorate an image.

There may be used as a support material for a light-sensitive materialaccording to the present invention, a white color polyester type supportfor a display or a support provided with an adjacent layer containing awhite pigment on the same of the support side having a silver halideemulsion layer to be exposed. An anti-halation layer is preferablyprovided on a support side provided with a silver halide emulsion layeror on a backside thereof. In particular, a transmitting density of asupport is preferably set within the range of 0.35 to 0.8 so that adisplay can be seen either with a reflected light or a transmittedlight.

In performing exposure, a band stop filter, such as described in U.S.Pat. No. 4,880,726, is preferably used. This device removes light mixingto markedly improve a color reproduction.

An exposed light-sensitive material of the present invention can besubjected to a conventional color development processing. After thecolor development processing, the light-sensitive material is subjectedpreferably to a bleach-fixing processing for the purpose of a rapidprocessing. A bleach-fixing solution preferably has pH of 6.5 or lower,more preferably 6 or lower for the purpose of the acceleration ofdesilver.

Preferably used in the practice of present invention are the silverhalide emulsions, other materials (additives and the like) andphotographic component layers (layer sequence arrangement and the like),as modified in a manner and the extent necessary to incorporate thenovel features of the light-sensitive material according to the presentinvention, and also preferably used are the processing methods andprocessing additives as applied for processing the light-sensitivematerial of the present invention, each described in the followingpatent publications, particularly in European Patent 0 355 660A2(JP-A-2-139544):

                                      TABLE 1                                     __________________________________________________________________________    Photographic                                                                  elements JP-A-62-215272                                                                              JP-A-2-33144  EP 0355660                               __________________________________________________________________________    Silver halide                                                                          pp. 10, right upper colmn,                                                                  pp. 28, right upper colmn,                                                                  pp. 45, line 53 to                       emulsion line 6 to pp. 12, left                                                                      line 16 to pp. 29, right                                                                    pp. 47, line 3, and                               lower colmn, line 5, and                                                                    lower colmn, line 11, and                                                                   pp. 47, line 20 to 22.                            pp. 12, right lower colmn,                                                                  pp. 30, line 2 to 5                                             line 4 from bottom to pp. 13,                                                 left upper colmn, line 17.                                           Silver halide                                                                          pp. 12, left lower colmn,                                                                   --            --                                       solvent  line 6 to 14, and pp. 13,                                                     left upper colmn, line 3                                                      from bottom to pp. 18, left                                                   lower colmn, last line.                                              Chemical pp. 12, left lower colmn,                                                                   pp. 29, right lower colmn,                                                                  pp. 47, line 4                           sensitizer                                                                             line 3 from bottom to                                                                       line 12 to last line.                                                                       to 9.                                             right lower colmn, line                                                       5 from bottom, and pp. 18,                                                    right lower colmn, line                                                       1 to pp. 22, right upper                                                      colmn, line 9 from bottom.                                           Spectral pp. 22, right upper colmn,                                                                  pp. 30, left upper colmn,                                                                   pp. 47, line 10 to 15.                   sensitizer                                                                             line 8 from bottom to                                                                       line 1 to 13.                                          (spectral                                                                              pp. 38, last line.                                                   sensitizing                                                                   method)                                                                       Emulsion pp. 39, left upper colmn,                                                                   pp. 30, left upper colmn,                                                                   pp. 47, line 16 to 19.                   stabilizer                                                                             line 1 to pp. 72, right                                                                     line 14 to right upper                                          upper colmn, last line.                                                                     colmn, line 1.                                         Development                                                                            pp. 72, left lower colmn,                                                                   --            --                                       accelerator                                                                            line 1 to pp. 91, right                                                       upper colmn, line 3.                                                 Color coupler                                                                          pp. 91, right upper colmn,                                                                  pp. 3, right upper colmn,                                                                   pp. 4, line 15 to 27,                    (cyan, magenta                                                                         line 4 to pp. 121, left                                                                     line 14 to pp. 18, left                                                                     pp. 5, line 30 to                        and cyan upper colmn, line 6.                                                                        upper colmn, last line,                                                                     pp. 28, last line, and                   couplers)              and pp. 30, right upper                                                                     pp. 47, line 23 to                                              colmn, line 6 to pp. 35                                                                     pp. 63, line. 50                                                right lower colmn, line 11.                            Color forming                                                                          pp. 121, left upper colmn,                                                                  --            --                                       accelerator                                                                            line 7 to pp. 125, right                                                      upper colmn, line 1.                                                 UV absorber                                                                            pp. 125, right upper colmn,                                                                 pp. 37, right lower colmn,                                                                  pp. 65, line 22 to 31.                            line 2 to pp. 127, left                                                                     line 14 to pp. 38, left                                         lower colmn, last line.                                                                     upper colmn, line 11.                                  Anti-fading                                                                            pp. 127, right lower colmn,                                                                 pp. 36, right upper colmn,                                                                  pp. 4, line 30 to                        agent    line 1 to pp. 137, left                                                                     line 12 to pp. 37, left                                                                     pp. 5, line 23,                          (an image                                                                              lower colmn, line 8.                                                                        upper colmn, line 19.                                                                       pp. 29, line 1 to                        stabilizer)                          pp. 45, line 25,                                                              pp. 45, line 33                                                               to 40, and                                                                    pp. 65, line 2 to 21.                    High boiling                                                                           pp. 137, left lower colmn,                                                                  pp. 35, right lower colmn,                                                                  pp. 64, line 1 to 51.                    and/or low                                                                             line 9 to pp. 144, right                                                                    line 14 to pp. 36, left                                boiling  upper, last line.                                                                           upper, line 4.                                         organic                                                                       solvent                                                                       Method for                                                                             pp. 144, left lower colmn,                                                                  pp. 27, right lower colmn,                                                                  pp. 63, line 51 to pp.                   dispersing                                                                             line 1 to pp. 146, right                                                                    line 10 to pp. 28, left                                                                     64, line 56.                             photographic                                                                           upper colmn, line 7.                                                                        upper column, last line, and                           additives              pp. 35, right lower colmn,                                                    line 12 to pp. 36, right                                                      upper colmn, line 7.                                   Hardener pp. 146, right upper colmn                                                                  --            --                                                line 8 to pp. 155, left                                                       lower colmn, line 4.                                                 Precursor of                                                                           pp. 155, left lower colmn,                                                                  --            --                                       a developing                                                                           line 5 to right lower                                                agent    colmn, line 2                                                        Development                                                                            pp. 155, right lower colmn,                                                                 --            --                                       inhibitor-                                                                             line 3 to 9.                                                         releasing                                                                     compound                                                                      Support  pp. 155, right lower colmn,                                                                 pp. 38, right upper colmn,                                                                  pp. 66, line 29 to                                line 19 to pp. 156, left                                                                    line 18 to pp. 39, left                                                                     pp. 67 line 13.                                   upper colmn, line 14.                                                                       upper colmn, line 3.                                   Light-   pp. 156, left upper colmn,                                                                  pp. 28, right upper colmn,                                                                  pp. 45, line 41 to 52                    sensitive                                                                              line 15 to right lower                                                                      line 1 to 15.                                          layer    colmn, line 14.                                                      structure                                                                     Dye      pp. 156, right lower colmn,                                                                 pp. 38, left upper colmn,                                                                   pp. 66, line 18 to 22.                            line 15 to pp. 184, right                                                                   line 12 to right upper                                          lower colmn, last line.                                                                     colmn, line 7.                                         Anit-color                                                                             pp. 185, left upper colmn,                                                                  pp. 36, right upper colmn,                                                                  pp. 64, line 57 to                       mixing   line 1 to pp. 188, right                                                                    line 8 to 11. pp. 65 line 1.                           agent    lower colmn, line 3.                                                 Gradation                                                                              pp. 188, right lower colmn,                                                                 --            --                                       controller                                                                             line 4 to 8.                                                         Anti-stain                                                                             pp. 188, right lower colmn,                                                                 pp. 37, left upper colmn,                                                                   pp. 65, line 32 to                       agent    line 9 to pp. 193, right                                                                    last line to right lower                                                                    pp. 66, line 17.                                  lower colmn, line 10.                                                                       colmn, line 13.                                        Surface  pp. 201, left lower colmn,                                                                  pp. 18, right upper colmn,                                                                  --                                       active   linel to pp. 210, right                                                                     line 1 to pp. 24, right                                agent    upper colmn, last line                                                                      lower colmn, last line,                                                       and pp. 27, left lower                                                        colmn, line 10 from                                                           bottom to right lower                                                         colmn, line 9.                                         Fluorinated                                                                            pp. 210, left lower colmn,                                                                  pp. 25, left upper colmn,                                                                   --                                       compound line 1 to pp. 222, left                                                                     line 1 to pp. 27, right                                (antistatic                                                                            lower colmn, line 5.                                                                        lower colmn, line 9.                                   agent, coating                                                                aid, lubricant                                                                and antiadhesion                                                              agent)                                                                        Binder   pp. 222, left lower colmn,                                                                  pp. 38, right upper colmn,                                                                  pp. 66, line 23 to 28.                   (hydro-  line 6 to pp. 225, left                                                                     line 8 to 18.                                          philic   upper colmn, last line.                                              colloid)                                                                      Thickener                                                                              pp. 225, right upper colmn,                                                                 --            --                                                line 1 to pp. 227, right                                                      upper colmn, line 2.                                                 Antistatic                                                                             pp. 227, right upper colmn,                                                                 --            --                                       agent    line 3 to pp. 230, left                                                       upper colmn, line 1.                                                 Polymer  pp. 230, left upper colmn,                                                                  --            --                                       latex    line 2 to pp. 239, last line                                         Matting  pp. 240, left upper colmn,                                                                  --            --                                       agent    line 1 to right upper                                                         colmn, last line.                                                    Photographic                                                                           pp. 3, right upper colmn,                                                                   pp. 39, left upper colmn,                                                                   pp. 67, line 14 to                       processing                                                                             line 7 to pp. 10, right                                                                     line 4 to pp. 42, left                                                                      pp. 69, line 28.                         method   upper colmn, line 5.                                                                        upper colmn, last line.                                (processing                                                                   steps and                                                                     additives)                                                                    __________________________________________________________________________     Remarks:                                                                      1. There is included in the cited items from JPA-62-215272, the content       amended according to the Amendment of March 16, 1987 which has been           published on September 21, 1987.                                              2. Of the above color couplers, also preferably used are the socalled         short wave type yellow couplers described in JPA-63-231451, JPA-63-123047     JPA-63-241547, JPA-1-173499, JPA-1-213648, and JPA-1-250944.             

Preferably used as a cyan coupler, are the 3-hydroxypyridine typecouplers described in European Patent 0,333,185A2 (among them,particularly preferred are a coupler converted to a diequivalent couplerby providing tetraequivalent Coupler (42) listed as a specific examplewith a chlorine releasing group, Coupler (6), and Coupler (9)), and thecyclic active methylene type cyan couplers described in JP-A-64-32260(of them, particularly preferred are Couplers 3, 8 and 34 listed as aspecific examples), as well as the diphenyl imidazole type cyan couplersdescribed in JP-A-2-33144.

The method described in a left upper column of page 27 to a right uppercolumn of page 34 of JP-A-2-207250 is preferably applied as a processingmethod for a silver halide color light-sensitive material in which ahigh silver chloride emulsion having a silver chloride content of 90mole % or more is used.

The present invention will be explained below in greater detail withreference to the examples but is not to be construed as limited thereto.

EXAMPLE 1 Preparation of Emulsion A

3.3 g of Sodium chloride was added to a 3% aqueous solution oflime-treated gelatin and 3.2 ml of N,N'-dimethylimidazolidine-2-thione(1% aqueous solution) 3.2 ml was further added thereto. An aqueoussolution containing 0.5 mole of silver nitrate and an aqueous solutioncontaining 0.5 mole of sodium chloride were added to this solution at66° C. while vigorously stirring. Then, an aqueous solution containing0.45 mole of silver nitrate and an aqueous solution containing 0.5 moleof sodium chloride were added thereto at 66° C. while vigorouslystirring. The emulsion thus prepared was subjected to a desalting byadding a copolymer of isobutene and maleic acid, followed by settlingand washing. Further, 90.0 g of lime-treated gelatin was then added andpH and pAg were adjusted to 6.2 and 6.5, respectively. A silver bromidefine grain emulsion having a grain size of 0.05 μm was added at 50° C.to this emulsion in terms of a silver amount of 0.005 mole to form asilver bromide rich layer on the grain surfaces, and then, ared-sensitive sensitizing dye (S-1) 2× 10⁻⁴ mole/mole of Ag andpotassium thiocyanate 2×10⁻³ mole/mole of Ag, followed by further addinga sulfur sensitizer (triethyl thiourea) in an amount of 1×10⁻⁵ mole/moleof Ag and nucleic acid 0.2 g/mole of Ag to thereby optimumly provide achemical sensitization. 0.8 mg Potassium hexachloro-iridate (IV) per0.005 mole of the grains was incorporated in advance into the abovesilver bromide fine grains during the formation thereof.

A grain form, a grain size and a grain size distribution of the silverbromochloride of Emulsion A having a silver chloride content of 99.5mole % were obtained from an electroscopic photograph thereof. Thesilver halide grains were of cube form, and a grain size and coefficientof variation were 0.50 μm and 0.08, respectively. The grain size wasdefined by an average value of the diameters of the circles having thesame areas as the projected areas of the grains, and the grain sizedistribution was defined by the value obtained by dividing a standarddeviation of a grain size with an average grain size.

Emulsions B to K shown in Table 1 were prepared generally like emulsionA, at the same reaction temperature and using the silver bromochloridehaving the same grain size, except that the red sensitizing dye andthiocyanic acid salt were changed as shown in Table 1.

Further, the silver halide grains in Emulsions B through K were preparedat different temperatures from Emulsion A to form emulsions havingdifferent grain sizes, and then blue-sensitive sensitizing dyes orgreen-sensitive sensitizing dyes, as described below, were addedrespectively to prepare a blue-sensitive emulsion, which was used in aFirst Layer described below, and a green-sensitive emulsion, which wasused in a Third Layer described below. ##STR15##

A surface of a paper support laminated with polyethylene on both sidesthereof was subjected to a corona discharge treatment, and then agelatin subbing layer containing dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid wasprovided thereon. Further, various photographic component layers werecoated thereon to thereby prepare a multilayered color printing paperi,e.; Sample (O) having a layer structure shown below. The coatingsolutions were prepared as described below.

PREPARATION OF THE FIFTH LAYER COATING SOLUTION

25.0 ml of Ethyl acetate and 4.2 g of a solvent (Solv-6) were added to9.6 g of a cyan coupler (ExC), 0.6 g of a dye image stabilizer (Cpd-2),5.4 g of a dye image stabilizer (Cpd-6), 12 g of a dye image stabilizer(Cpd-7), 1.5 g of a dye image stabilizer (Cpd-8), and 0.4 g of a dyeimage stabilizer (Cpd-4) to dissolve them. This solution was emulsifiedand dispersed in 402 ml of a 10% gelatin aqueous solution containing20.0 ml of 10% sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, whereby an emulsion C wasprepared. This was mixed with the above silver bromochloride Emulsion A(cube, an average grain size: 0.50 μm) to thereby prepare the fifthlayer coating solution so that the composition thereof became as shownBelow.

The coating solutions for the first layer to seventh layer were preparedas well in the similar manners to the fifth layer coating solution.Sodium 1-oxy-3,5-dichloro-s-triazine was used as a gelatin hardener forthe respective layers. The total coated amount of this coating solutionwas 0.097 g/m².

Further, Cpd-10 and Cpd-11 were added to each coating solution so thattheir total added amounts became 25.0 g/m² and 50.0 g/m², respectively.

1-(5-methylureidophenyl)-5-mercaptotetrazole was added to theblue-sensitive emulsion layer, the green-sensitive emulsion layer andthe red-sensitive emulsion layer in the amounts of 8.5×10⁻⁵ mole,7.7×10⁻⁴ mole and 2.5×10⁻⁴ mole each per mole of silver halide,respectively.

Further, 4-hydroxy-6-methyl-1,3,3a,7-tetraazaindene was added to theblue-sensitive emulsion layer and the green-sensitive emulsion layer inthe amounts of 1×10⁻⁴ mole and 2×10⁻⁴ mole each per mole of silverhalide, respectively.

The following dyes Dye-1 to Dye-4 (the numbers in the parenthesesrepresent the coated amounts) were each applied to each of the emulsionlayers (First, Third, and Fifth Layers) in order to prevent irradiation.##STR16##

Samples (1) to (23) shown in Table 1 were prepared in the same manner asthat of Sample (O) described below, except that an addition amount ofanti-irradiation dye (Dye-3) and a type of red-sensitive sensitizing dyeand a type, if any, of thiocyanic acid salt added to the silverchlorobromide emulsion layer contained in the Fifth layer (red sensitivecyan developing layer) in each of Samples (1) to (23) were varied asshown in Table 1. The red-sensitizing dyes used in this regard aredescribed below. ##STR17##

                                      TABLE 1                                     __________________________________________________________________________               Sensitizing dye                                                                        Thiocyanate*.sup.1                                                                         Dye 3 added                                  Sample No.                                                                          Emulsion                                                                           Kind*.sup.9                                                                            Kind                                                                              Added amount*.sup.2                                                                    amount*.sup.3                                                                        Density*.sup.4                        __________________________________________________________________________     1 (Comp.)                                                                          B    S-2 (Comparison)                                                                       --  --       --     0.3                                    2 (Comp.)                                                                          B    S-2 (Comparison)                                                                       --  --        5     0.5                                    3 (Comp.)                                                                          B    S-2 (Comparison)                                                                       --  --       35     1.0                                    4 (Comp.)                                                                          B    S-2 (Comparison)                                                                       --  --       80     2.0                                    5 (Comp.)                                                                          C    S-2 (Comparison)                                                                       PT*.sup.5                                                                         1.0      --     0.3                                    6 (Comp.)                                                                          C    S-2 (Comparison)                                                                       PT  1.0      35     1.0                                    7 (Comp.)                                                                          C    S-2 (Comparison)                                                                       PT  1.0      80     2.0                                    8 (Comp.)                                                                          D    S-1      --  --       --     0.3                                    9 (Comp.)                                                                          D    S-1      --  --        5     0.5                                   10 (Comp.)                                                                          D    S-1      --  --       35     1.0                                   11 (Comp.)                                                                          D    S-1      --  --       80     2.0                                   12 (Inv.)                                                                           E    S-1      PT  1.0      --     0.3                                   13 (Inv.)                                                                           E    S-1      PT  1.0       5     0.5                                   14 (Inv.)                                                                           E    S-1      PT  1.0      15     0.7                                   15 (Inv.)                                                                           E    S-1      PT  1.0      35     1.0                                   16 (Inv.)                                                                           E    S-1      PT  1.0      80     2.0                                   17 (Inv.)                                                                           A    S-1      PT  5.0       5     0.5                                   18 (Inv.)                                                                           F    S-3      PT  1.0       5     0.5                                   19 (Inv.)                                                                           G    S-4      PT  1.0       5     0.5                                   20 (Inv.)                                                                           H    S-5      PT  1.0       5     0.5                                   21 (Inv.)                                                                           I    S-1      AT*.sup.6                                                                         1.0       5     0.5                                   22 (Inv.)                                                                           J    S-1      ST*.sup.7                                                                         1.0       5     0.5                                   23 (Inv.)                                                                           K    S-1      CT*.sup.8                                                                         1.0       5     0.5                                   __________________________________________________________________________     *.sup.1 thiocyanic acid salt was added dissolved in water.                    *.sup.2 × 10.sup.-3 mole/mole of Ag.                                    *.sup.3 mg/m.sup.2.                                                           *.sup.4 optical reflection density in 680 nm.                                 *.sup.5 potassium thiocyanate.                                                *.sup.6 ammonium thiocyanate.                                                 *.sup.7 sodium thiocyanate.                                                   *.sup.8 calcium thiocyanate.                                                  *.sup.9 amount of the sensitizing dyes is equimolar with S1 in the            Emulsion A.                                                              

LAYER STRUCTURE

The compositions of the respective layers are shown below. The numbersrepresent the coated amounts (g/m²). The amount of a silver halideemulsion is expressed by the amount converted to silver.

SUPPORT

Polyethylene-laminated paper (a white pigment/TiO₂ and bluing dye(ultramarine) were added to polyethylene on the side of the firstlayer).

    __________________________________________________________________________    First layer (blue-sensitive yellow developing layer):                         Above silver chlorobromide emulsion (A)                                                                       0.30                                          Gelatin                         1.22                                          Yellow coupler (ExY)            0.82                                          Image stabilizer (Cpd-1)        0.19                                          Solvent (Solv-3)                0.18                                          Solvent (Solv-7)                0.18                                          Image stabilizer (Cpd-7)        0.06                                          Second layer (anti-color mixing layer):                                       Gelatin                         0.64                                          Anti-color mixing agent (Cpd-5) 0.10                                          Solvent (Solv-1)                0.16                                          Solvent (Solv-4)                0.08                                          Third layer (green-sensitive magenta developing layer):                       Silver chlorobromide emulsion (A)                                                                             0.12                                          Gelatin                         1.28                                          Magenta coupler (ExM)           0.23                                          Image stabilizer (Cpd-2)        0.03                                          Image stabilizer (Cpd-3)        0.16                                          Image stabilizer (Cpd-4)        0.02                                          Image stabilizer (Cpd-9)        0.02                                          Solvent (Solv-2)                0.40                                          Fourth layer (UV absorbing layer):                                            Gelatin                         1.41                                          UV absorber (UV-1)              0.47                                          Anti-color mixing agent (Cpd-5) 0.05                                          Solvent (Solv-5)                0.24                                          Fifth layer (red-sensitive cyan developing layer):                            Silver chlorobromide emulsion (A)                                                                             0.23                                          Gelatin                         1.04                                          Cyan coupler (ExC)              0.32                                          Image stabilizer (Cpd-2)        0.03                                          Image stabilizer (Cpd-4)        0.02                                          Image stabilizer (Cpd-6)        0.18                                          Image stabilizer (Cpd-7)        0.40                                          Image stabilizer (Cpd-8)        0.05                                          Solvent (Solv-6)                0.14                                          Sixth layer (UV absorbing layer):                                             Gelatin                         0.48                                          UV absorber (UV-1)              0.16                                          Anti-color mixing agent (Cpd-5) 0.02                                          Solvent (Solv-5)                0.08                                          Seventh layer (protective layer):                                             Gelatin                         1.10                                          Acryl-modified copolymer of polyvinylalcohol (modification:                                                   0.17                                          Fluid paraffin                  0.03                                          __________________________________________________________________________    Yellow coupler (ExY)                                                           ##STR18##                                                                    the mixture (1:1 by mole) of                                                   ##STR19##                                                                    Magenta coupler (ExM)                                                          ##STR20##                                                                    Cyan coupler (ExC)                                                            the mixture (1:1 by mole) of                                                   ##STR21##                                                                    Image stabilizer (Cpd-1)                                                       ##STR22##                                                                    Image stabilizer (Cpd-2)                                                       ##STR23##                                                                    Image stabilizer (Cpd-3)                                                       ##STR24##                                                                    Image stabilizer (Cpd-4)                                                       ##STR25##                                                                    Anti-color mixing agent (Cpd-5)                                                ##STR26##                                                                    Image stabilizer (Cpd-6)                                                      the mixture (2:4:4 by weight) of                                               ##STR27##                                                                     ##STR28##                                                                    Image stabilizer (Cpd-7)                                                       ##STR29##                                                                    Image stabilizer (Cpd-8)                                                      the mixture (1:1 by mole) of                                                   ##STR30##                                                                    Image stabilizer (Cpd-9)                                                       ##STR31##                                                                    Preservative (Cpd-10)                                                          ##STR32##                                                                    Preservative (Cpd-11)                                                          ##STR33##                                                                    UV absorber (UV-1)                                                            the mixture (4:2:4 by weight) of                                               ##STR34##                                                                     ##STR35##                                                                    Solvent (Solv-1)                                                               ##STR36##                                                                    Solvent (Solv-2)                                                              the mixture (1:1 by volume) of                                                 ##STR37##                                                                    Solvent (Solv-3)                                                               ##STR38##                                                                    Solvent (Solv-4)                                                               ##STR39##                                                                    Solvent (Solv-5)                                                               ##STR40##                                                                    Solvent (Solv-6)                                                              the mixture (80:20 by volume) of                                               ##STR41##                                                                    Solvent (Solv-7)                                                               ##STR42##                                                                

The exposed samples were subjected to a continuous processing (a runningtest) with a paper processing machine at the following processing stepsuntil a replenishing quantity of a color developing solution reached twotimes the tank capacity thereof.

    ______________________________________                                                                      Replen-                                                                       ishing  Tank                                    Processing step                                                                          Temperature                                                                              Time    amount* capacity                                ______________________________________                                        Color developing                                                                         35° C.                                                                            45 sec  161 ml  17 liter                                Bleach-fixing                                                                            30 to 35° C.                                                                      45 sec  215 ml  17 liter                                Rinsing (1)                                                                              30 to 35° C.                                                                      20 sec  --      10 liter                                Rinsing (2)                                                                              30 to 35° C.                                                                      20 sec  --      10 liter                                Rinsing (3)                                                                              30 to 35° C.                                                                      20 sec  350 ml  10 liter                                Drying     70 to 80° C.                                                                      60 sec                                                  ______________________________________                                         *The replenishing amount is expressed in terms of per m.sup.2 of a            lightsensitive material.                                                 

Rinsing was carried out in a three tanks countercurrent system fromrinsing steps (3) to (1).

The compositions of the respective processing solutions are as follows:

    ______________________________________                                                           Tank   Replenishing                                                           Solution                                                                             solution                                            ______________________________________                                        Color developing solution                                                     Water                800    ml    800   ml                                    Ethylenediamine-N,N,N',N'-                                                                         1.5    g     2.0   g                                     tetramethylene phosphonic                                                     acid                                                                          Potassium bromide    0.015  g     --                                          Triethanolamine      8.0    g     12.0  g                                     Sodium chloride      1.4    g     --                                          Potassium carbonate  25     g     25    g                                     N-ethyl-N-(b-methane-                                                                              5.0    g     7.0   g                                     sulfonamidethyl)-3-methyl                                                     4-aminoaniline sulfate                                                        N,N-bis(carboxymethyl)                                                                             4.0    g     5.0   g                                     hydrazine                                                                     Monosodium N,N-di(sulfoethyl)                                                                      4.0    g     5.0   g                                     hydroxylamine                                                                 Fluorescent whitening agent                                                                        1.0    g     2.0   g                                     (Whitex 4B, manufactured by                                                   Sumitomo Chemical Ind.                                                        Co., Ltd.)                                                                    Water was added to   1000   ml    1000  ml                                    pH (25° C.)   10.05        10.45                                       Bleach-fixing solution                                                        (a tank solution is the same as a replenishing solution)                      Water                   400    ml                                             Ammonium thiosulfate (700 g/liter)                                                                    100    ml                                             Sodium sulfite          17     g                                              Iron (III) ammonium ethylene-                                                                         55     g                                              diaminetetracetate                                                            Disodium ethylenediaminetetracetate                                                                   5      g                                              Ammonium bromide        40     g                                              Water was added to      1000   ml                                             pH (25° C.)      6.0                                                   Rinsing solution (a tank solution is the same as a                            replenishing solution)                                                        Ion exchanged water (the contents of calcium and                              magnesium: each 3 ppm or lower)                                               ______________________________________                                    

Samples (1) to (23) were subjected to an evaluation of sharpness andstain on a white background after processing as follows.

A value called CTF was used for the evaluation of a sharpness, whereinCTF represents a decay of an amplitude against a spatial frequency as asquare wave. In the present invention, the sharpness was shown in termsof the spatial frequency of 15 lines/mm. The greater the value, thehigher the sharpness.

The evaluation of a stain was expressed by the difference of the whitelight densities on a background, which were measured before (immediatelyafter processing) and after a sample subjected to a developmentprocessing was stored in the conditions of 60° C. and RH 70% for sevendays.

The results are shown in Table 2.

                  TABLE 2                                                         ______________________________________                                                       Stain                                                          Sample               Immediately After                                        No.       CTF (R)    after processing                                                                          storage*.sup.1                               ______________________________________                                         1 (Comp.)                                                                              0.10       0.02        0.03                                          2 (Comp.)                                                                              0.12       0.02        0.03                                          3 (Comp.)                                                                              0.14       0.02        0.03                                          4 (Comp.)                                                                              0.18       0.02        0.03                                          5 (Comp.)                                                                              0.10       0.04        0.05                                          6 (Comp.)                                                                              0.14       0.04        0.07                                          7 (Comp.)                                                                              0.18       0.06        0.10                                          8 (Comp.)                                                                              0.18       0.02        0.03                                          9 (Comp.)                                                                              0.20       0.02        0.03                                         10 (Comp.)                                                                              0.23       0.02        0.03                                         11 (Comp.)                                                                              0.25       0.03        0.04                                         12 (Inv.) 0.32       0.02        0.03                                         13 (Inv.) 0.40       0.02        0.03                                         14 (Inv.) 0.42       0.02        0.03                                         15 (Inv.) 0.44       0.02        0.03                                         16 (Inv.) 0.45       0.03        0.04                                         17 (Inv.) 0.42       0.02        0.03                                         18 (Inv.) 0.42       0.02        0.03                                         19 (Inv.) 0.42       0.02        0.03                                         20 (Inv.) 0.42       0.02        0.03                                         21 (Inv.) 0.42       0.02        0.03                                         22 (Inv.) 0.42       0.02        0.03                                         23 (Inv.) 0.42       0.02        0.03                                         ______________________________________                                         *.sup.1 at 60° C. and RH 70% for seven days.                      

Where comparative sensitizing dye S-2 is used, as in Samples 1 to 7, itled to a relatively small and significantly inferior improvement insharpness in comparison to Sample Nos. 12-23 not withstanding anyincrease in addition amount of the anti-irradiation Dye-3 to raiseoptical reflection density of the light-sensitive material. Further,where a thiocyanic acid salt was used in combination with comparativesensitizing dye S-2, a stain which looks like fog appears immediatelyafter processing, as in Sample Nos. 5-7, and where the amount ofanti-irradiation Dye-3 is further increased, as in Sample No. 7, thestain after storage was increased to an even larger extent.

Where the sensitizing dye S-1, which is represented by Formula (I), wasused in Samples 8 to 11 but without a thiocyanic acid salt, theimprovement in sharpness is somewhat better as compared with Samples 1to 7, but the level of improvement thereof is not sufficient andsignificantly inferior to that of Sample Nos. 12-23.

On the other hand, it was found that where the sensitizing dyesrepresented by Formula (I) were used in combination with the thiocyanicacid salts as in Samples 12 to 16, the sharpness is markedly improvedand further that the stain before and after storage is small as well.This improved effect on sharpness was particularly notable in thesamples having an optical reflection density provided in thelight-sensitive material of 0.5 or more.

Further, it was found from the results of Samples 17 to 23 that theeffects of the present invention remains unchanged even if the kinds ofthe thiocyanic acid salts and/or the type of sensitizing dyesrepresented by formula (I) are changed.

Thus, a silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material can beobtained according to the present invention, capable of providing anexcellent rapid processing property and sharpness as well as forminglittle stain on a background before and after storage followingprocessing.

Further, the light-sensitive material of the present invention isimproved in safelight safety at about 590 nm and can provide largeadvantages in operability in manufacturing and a development processing.

It should be evident that various modifications can be made to thedescribed embodiments without departing from the scope of the presentinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A silver halide color photographic materialcomprising a reflection support having provided thereon at least one ofeach of a yellow color developing silver halide emulsion layer, amagenta color developing silver halide emulsion layer and a cyan colordeveloping silver halide emulsion layer, wherein the spectralsensitivity peaks of the emulsion layers reside in 400 to 490 nm, 530 to570 nm and 660 to 720 nm, respectively; and wherein the cyan colordeveloping silver halide emulsion layer comprises (1) a silver halideemulsion comprising silver halide selected from silver chloride, silverbromochloride, silver chloroiodide and silver bromochloroiodide, eachhaving an average silver chloride content of 90 mol % or more, and (2)at least one thiocyanic acid salt compound, and wherein the spectralsensitivity peak of the cyan color developing silver halide emulsionlayer is provided by a J-band absorption of a sensitizing dyerepresented by the following Formula (I): ##STR43## wherein Z₂₃ and Z₂₄,which may be the same or different, each represents a group of atomsnecessary to form a heterocyclic nucleus selected from a benzothiazolenucleus, a benzoselenazole nucleus, a naphthothiazole nucleus and anaphthoselenazole nucleus, each of which may have at least onesubstituent selected from a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxygroup, an aryl group, and a hydroxyl group, provided that two of thesubstituents may be combined with each other to form a ring; R₂₅represents an alkyl group or an aryl group; R₂₃ and R₂₄, which may bethe same or different each represent a substituted or unsubstitutedalkyl group; X₂₁ represents a counter ion; and n₂₁ is 0 or
 1. 2. Thesilver halide color photographic material as in claim 1, wherein thesensitizing dye represented by formula (I) is present in an amount offrom 1×10⁻⁶ to 1×10⁻³ mole dye per mole of silver halide.
 3. The silverhalide color photographic material as in claim 1, wherein saidthiocyanic acid salt compound is selected from the group consisting ofthiocyanic acid alkali metal salts, thiocyanic acid alkali earth saltsand thiocyanic acid ammonium salts.
 4. The silver halide colorphotographic material as in claim 1, wherein said thiocyanic acid saltcompound is selected from the group consisting of potassium thiocyanate,sodium thiocyanate, calcium thiocyanate, magnesium thiocyanate andammonium thiocyanate.
 5. A silver halide color photographic material asin claim 1, wherein said thiocyanic acid salt compound is present in anamount of 2.5×10⁻⁵ to 2×10⁻² mole per mole of silver halide.
 6. A silverhalide color photographic material as in claim 1, wherein said materialhas an optical reflection density of 0.50 to 2.0 in a measuringwavelength of 680 nm.
 7. The silver halide color photographic materialas in claim 5, further comprising a sharpness improving dye selectedfrom the group consisting of an oxonol dye having a pyrazolone nucleusor a barbituric acid nucleus, an azo dye, an azomethine dye, anarylidene dye, a syryl dye, a triarylmethane dye, a merocyanine dye, anda cyanine dye.
 8. The silver halide color photographic material as inclaim 1, wherein said yellow color developing silver halide emulsionlayer, said magenta color developing silver halide emulsion layer andsaid cyan color developing silver halide emulsion layer each comprisessilver halide having an average silver chloride content of at least 95mol %.
 9. The silver halide color photographic material as in claim 1,wherein the reflective support comprises a water-resistant resincontaining layer comprising 12% by weight or more of titanium oxidewhich has been subjected to a surface treatment with di- to tetrahydricalcohols before incorporation into said water-resistant resin containinglayer.
 10. The silver halide color photographic material as in claim 1,wherein said thiocyanic acid salt compound is added after the formationof silver halide grains in said silver halide emulsion.